Only A Memory

by J. Lea

  “We’ll know more when Miss Johnson wakes up, that’s all I can say for now.” The doctor then hurries down the hall.

  “But …” I mutter, collapsing into a chair. Dolores hugs me and Phoenix and Amber look crushed. “I can’t wait anymore. I need her.”

  An hour ago, I got a call from the police station asking Phoenix and me to stop by. Since my car is still at the club, I had to call Phoenix to pick me up at the hospital. It’s been twenty-four hours since the cops stopped by. Those same policemen greet us when we arrive at the police station, showing us to their office where we sit down and wait for them to return.

  “Do you think they have any new leads?” I ask.

  “I hope so,” Phoenix says as he leans his elbows on the desk. “They didn’t say anything when they called?”

  “No, just that they need to see us.”

  The door flies open. “Good afternoon, gentlemen, thank you for coming.” Each of the man carries two cups of coffee. Two for us, two for them.

  We mumble our thanks, and then I get straight to the point. “Why did you call us over? Are there news?”

  “So,” the taller and older one starts, opening a folder. “We do have some new information. First, I just want to say you’re not one of the suspects anymore. That’s why we can talk to you about the case. We talked to the witnesses at the club and your employees. They all claim they don’t recall a Ms. Johnson entering the club, and security footage confirms she entered through the back door. That’s why your bouncer didn’t see her either. The footage also confirms your story, Mr. Meadows. We know you haven’t returned to the scene until the events already unfolded. Your story also checks out, Mr. Black.” He turns to Phoenix. “But we got a visit from a young lady called Dana Spears. She’s your accountant, if I’m not mistaken, right?”

  Nodding, my lips tightly pressed together, so I don’t say something I’ll regret. I think I know where this is headed.

  “She played us an interesting voice recording,” the other policeman speaks.

  “Yes, but that recording has nothing to do with the fire,” I protest. “She didn’t set it up,” I try to assure them. “She’s the victim here.”

  “Calm down, Mr. Meadows, and give me time to explain,” the policeman calmly retorts. “We check every lead and piece of evidence we receive. Ms. Spears claims that Ms. Johnson set the building on fire because she caught you and Ms. Spears …” The policemen look at each other. “Well, according to Ms. Spears, Ms. Johnson caught you two making out in your office. She claims revenge could be the motive which led her to arson.”

  “We weren’t making out. She was trying to kiss me, but I pushed her away. And Everly didn’t do anything. She almost died in that fire, don’t you understand?” Slamming my fist on the table, everyone jumps.

  “I’m with Connor, I believe she didn’t do it,” Phoenix jumps in. “Why would she stay in a burning office if she’d set up the fire? She would’ve made sure there was a way out if she really did it.”

  “As I said, we checked Ms. Spears’ claims and we looked into Everly Johnson. We know she’s not the culprit here. We have solid proof that confirms it.”

  “You have proof?” The chair hits the floor hard as I get up in their faces. “What is it?”

  “First you need to sit.” Breathing hard, a muscle in my jaw twitches, but I do as he says.

  The tall policeman pulls a few photos of the interior of Mi Vida out of a folder. The main room wasn’t damaged that badly. The majority was to the office, which is completely burned out, and the hallway in front of the office.

  Then, he places a photograph of what looks like a door lock on the table.

  “What are we looking at?” Phoenix pinches his eyebrows together.

  “This morning, we confirmed that the doors to your office were locked from the outside. Ms. Johnson was trapped inside, which means someone locked her in from the other side.”

  “She was locked in?” Phoenix gapes and I just blink at them.

  “But how? I left the office door unlocked. We rarely lock it at all.” Phoenix nods solemnly.

  “Someone locked her inside and left the key inside the lock. We don’t know if it was on purpose or by accident, we’re still looking into that. We should have more information once we look at the security tapes from your office and the hallway. I really hope they weren’t ruined, so far, our technicians weren’t successful in retrieving them. That would shed a lot of light on the investigation.”

  I lean back in my chair perplexed. Why would someone lock her inside?

  I sit in the chair beside Everly’s hospital bed, holding her hand, and napping lightly beside her. Her condition got worse while I was at the police station yesterday. Upon my return, I almost had a heart attack when they told me her intracranial pressure increased. Her MRI revealed a cerebral edema due to the blow to the head she’d suffered. They put her into induced coma to prevent further damage. Her pressure stabilized, and the edema has gone down significantly, which they told me is good. They started weaning her off the drugs to wake her up.

  It’s been three long days, and she still hasn’t woken up. What is taking her so long? Her hands are so cold. Gone is the warmth I’m used to feeling every time she touches me. I want her back. The only way I know she’s still alive is that annoying beeping sound the machines around her are making and the slight movement of her chest.

  For a second there, I could have sworn her eyelid moved but when I straighten up and stare at her, I see no change. She’s still lying motionless and helpless in a hospital bed, her head wrapped in white bandages, her skin pale, contrasting the dark circles under her eyes.

  “How long are you going to sleep, baby? Please, open your eyes.”

  Again, I think I feel her move slightly. And this time I’m not imagining things. Her eyelids are moving. She groans, her face twisting as if in pain. I’m on my feet in seconds.

  “Everly, can you hear me, baby? I’m right here.” Softly I squeeze her hand and place a kiss to her forehead.

  She tries to say something but it comes out garbled and unintelligible. Her hand shoots up to her head but the tubes in her arms prevent her from that which looks like it’s freaking her out.

  “I’ll get the doctor.” I don’t think she hears me, but that’s not important now. The important thing is my Everly is back.

  “L ook at me,” Connor says quietly, beckoning me to open my eyes.

  It’s been a few hours since I woke up. Luckily, there was always a doctor or a nurse in the room with me so I didn’t have to face Connor yet, but he’s been by my side the whole time. Attentive and concerned. Like always.

  I’ll make a full recovery, but the doctors are keeping me for observation. I need to rest and get my strength back. If I don’t show any signs of regression, I’ll be able to go home in a few days.

  A tear slides down my cheek. It’s my fault Dana destroyed Mi Vida.

  “How are you feeling?” He strokes a hand down my cheek, the fingers of his other hand linked with mine.

  “Shitty.” My voice is still raspy.

  “Do you need me to call a nurse? Get you pain meds?” Worry is etched deep in his face.

  I shake my head no. “I just want to be alone.” It’s not physical pain I feel, but emotional. So much guilt. And no one can help me with that.

  “Baby, don’t push me away, please,” he begs, his voice breaking. My heart aches at his pained expression.

  “I …” Looking around, I can’t look into his eyes. “I’m sorry about Mi Vida. Is it bad?”

  “What?” He pushes to his feet, leaning down to cup my face. “You’re sorry about Mi Vida? I can’t believe the words coming out of your mouth right now. You’re lying here after I almost lost you, and you’re worried about the damn club?”

  Well, yeah. “I know how much it means to you.”

  “Not nearly as much as you mean to me. Don’t you understand? I love you. My God, I love you so much it hurts. When I saw you unc
onscious …” Taking a deep breath, he closes his eyes for a second. “My world almost fell apart. I’ll rebuild Mi Vida, don’t worry about that. But I couldn’t live without you.”

  “You love me?” I stutter through tears. I don’t deserve his love.

  “Of course. I’m madly in love with you.” The warmth of his lips on mine is like a Band-Aid for all the pain I’m carrying within me. “What were you doing inside the club anyway? I was trying to find you. I hadn’t even considered the idea of you returning there.”

  He loves me.

  “When I saw …” I close my eyes, the mental picture of Dana in his lap still too fresh in my memory. I shove it away because now I know I played right into Dana’s hand and that none of it was true. “I dropped my car keys on the way out. I came back to retrieve them so I could go home and pack.”

  “Pack?” The hurt in his eyes is huge. “Nothing happened between us. I swear. You have to believe me. What you saw …” The pain etched on his face is eating away at him, and his lips are a thin line as he continues. “She came on to me. One second we were talking, she was helping me, half the room between us, and the next, she was climbing in my lap. I was just about to push her away when you walked in. You need to believe me. I wouldn’t hurt you like that.” He sighs.

  “I do believe you.” I nod, my hand shooting up to cup his stubbly cheek. It feels so good to feel him under my fingers.

  I should’ve known Connor wouldn’t cheat on me. I felt it in my heart, but my eyes were telling me differently. And what I saw hurt me more than I could imagine.

  “You do?” Connor’s face lights up. “I thought I was going to have to grovel like crazy,” he says gently, smiling, and brushes his hand over my cheek.

  “Dana was furious. She told me what happened.”

  “She told you?” He gapes. “When did you see her?” He looks confused.

  “When I came back for the keys. She appeared out of nowhere, swinging my keys from her finger, and started complaining. She was so angry, Connor. I’m the reason Dana burned down Mi Vida. Her plan was to get rid of me so she could get you. She locked me in your office so I couldn’t escape.”

  “What?” Connor moves so fast, the chair he was sitting on hits the floor with a loud thud.

  “I asked her to stop, but she wouldn’t listen. More than once. She said she’s going to pin the fire on me and …” Words get stuck in my mouth, a lump in my throat prevents me from speaking. Now would be the perfect time to tell him about that recording and all the rest.

  “And?”

  Sharp pain shoots through my head, making me clench my teeth together and squeezing my eyes.

  Connor leans over me. “You should rest, baby.” Connor’s voice is concerned and urgent while he strokes my hair gently.

  I break out in a sob. “There’s so much I need to tell you, Connor,” I cry out.

  “We have plenty of time for that. You need to rest if you want to go home soon.”

  Go home soon. Such a beautiful word coming from his mouth, but I’m not sure he’ll want me near the house when I finally come clean about my past. I’m afraid he won’t love me anymore. Not like I love him.

  “I would never set Mi Vida on fire. You have to believe me.” The tears can’t seem to stop falling.

  “I believe you, baby. I haven’t doubted you, not even for a second. Now rest, try to get some sleep. I need to step out now, but I’ll be back by your side in no time.” His lips brush mine, and although gentle, I feel all his love in his kiss.

  Connor

  “Dana tried to kill Everly. She’s the one who set Mi Vida on fire and tried to pin it on Everly.” I am seething with fury as I deliver the news to Phoenix. I can’t believe Dana did this. That she’s actually capable of something like that.

  “What the fuck? How do you know?”

  “Everly told me.”

  “She woke up?” he sounds relieved.

  “Yeah, a few hours ago. I didn’t have time to call you until now. I was with her the entire time, I didn’t want to leave her alone.”

  “What exactly did she say? Are you sure she didn’t make it up?”

  Like hell. “She’d never do that.” I fill him in about my conversation with Everly. “Do you believe me now? We have to go to the police immediately. Can you pick me up?”

  “Sure. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  I tell the police everything I already told Phoenix. Amber is keeping Everly company while we talk. I asked her to stay with her in case Dana shows up. We don’t know where she went. Officers go back with us to take Everly’s statement as soon as we finish talking. They question her while we wait outside her room, and they promise to keep us updated when they finally leave.

  “I didn’t think she’d be so vindictive,” I confess to Phoenix. “You were right about her. I can’t believe my poor judgment. She’s way crazier than she led on.”

  “You couldn’t know she’s crazy. Her obsession with you was bigger than any one of us could imagine. No one had a clue she’d actually hurt someone.”

  “Thanks for coming, Phoenix. I really appreciate it.”

  “Don’t mention it.” He pats my back.

  “I’m going to go sit with Everly now. Will you stay here with Amber or are you going home?”

  “We’ll both leave. But we’ll be here tomorrow morning, okay?”

  “Okay. See you, man.” We shake hands and pat each other’s backs.

  C onnor brought my clothes; I’m finally leaving the hospital. It’s been a long week. I’ve had to go through several tests, but I’m healthy enough to be discharged. I will have to come back for a follow-up in a few weeks, but otherwise I’m okay.

  Dana has been arrested. It didn’t take them long to find her. To my big surprise, the police were able to retrieve the security footage from the office; I thought it was destroyed in the fire. The footage clearly shows what happened, and how she set the place on fire. They told me she probably did it on the spur of the moment when she saw an opportunity to get rid of me. She wasn’t thinking clearly, it wasn’t planned, and that’s why she forgot the crucial detail – the security cameras they installed all over the club.

  Dana didn’t leave the club even though Connor told her to go, she just went to the bar and drank a few shots. Connor left, running after me, and she wanted to wait for him to come back so she could show him the recording, but to her surprise, I came back before him. So she took matters in her own, drunken hands and came to confront me, as she later confessed to the police. Apparently, she only wanted to threaten me, but one look at my face and she lost it, jealousy and rage taking over her mind. After all, in her eyes, I was standing in the way of her happiness with Connor. But as she trapped me in the office, an idea hit her. Certain she could frame the fire on me and elegantly get rid of me at the same time, she set Mi Vida on fire, forgetting about the security cameras in the office. However, she had nothing to do with the broken fire sprinklers. She didn’t even know they were malfunctioning. She’s locked up now, far away from me, far away from anyone else who could get hurt.

  The day I get discharged from the hospital is bittersweet – I’ve been very much looking forward to it, but at the same time dreading it. Because even though it’s hard, I have to tell him about my past. I can’t keep any more secrets from him, and I don’t want to. I want him to know me, the real me, even if this means I’ll lose him forever.

  “Do you have everything?” he asks.

  I sigh, dropping the duffle bag with my belongings on the floor and sit on the bed. It’s now or never.

  “Yeah. But I need to tell you something first, okay?” He joins me, covering my intertwined hands with his own.

  “You know you can tell me anything. But let me take you home first, feed you, and tuck you into our bed where you can rest and clear your head from all the drama. Ava, Dolores, and Carlos can’t wait to see you. They’ve missed you.”

  “I …” My shoulders drop. “Okay, let’s go home.”
I’ve been carrying my secrets for so long, what’s a few more hours?

  It’s nice to be back and see the Ruizs and Ava. They can’t stop spoiling me, and Ava hasn’t left my side since I returned. Only now that it’s dark outside and Connor leaves to help Ava get ready for bed, I realize how tired I actually am. As soon as I climb into his bed, my eyes close automatically, lulling me to sleep. It’s ten hours later when I wake up as Connor’s fingers trace tiny circles on my arm, tickling me. Opening my eyes, I stare at his handsome face.

  “How are you feeling?” he asks softly.

  “I’m scared,” I admit. My heart is pounding like crazy.

  “Of what?”

  “That you’re going to hate me once I tell you everything.” My voice is shaking.

  “That’s not possible,” he assures me. “I love you, I told you that. Whatever it is, we’re gonna make it through. You’re stuck with me.” He pauses. “I heard that conversation between you and Amber, about the fire and someone getting hurt. Is this the secret you’ve been hiding from me? Been scared of telling me?”

  With a sigh, I nod. “Yeah. But that’s just one piece of the puzzle.”

  “Is that why you’re afraid of the fire?”

  “Partly, yeah.” Swallowing the lump in my throat, I take a deep breath. Let’s rip off the bandage. No sense in delaying the inevitable.

  “Okay.” Closing my eyes, I exhale slowly to gain some time. “When I was in college, I met Bradley, but you already know that. This is where my story actually begins.”

  “Go on.”

  “He was everything I wanted – attentive, gentle, patient, and loving. I fell madly in love with him, ignoring all the other guys. He loved me, and I loved him.” That puts a smile on my face. I was really happy then. “Everything was perfect. We were together for about four years, and then he popped the question. Our parents were over the moon, and so were we. We got married on my twenty-fourth birthday, May 17th.” My emotions start getting to me so I pause. My hands start to shake.